Embroidery sewing machine

ABSTRACT

Pattern data of an embroidery pattern includes data of given points for defining plural positions associated with the embroidery pattern as reference positions for pre-movement of the embroidery frame and distance data that indicates respective distances between the respective given points and a predetermined starting point. Before embroidering or trace is started, any one of the given points is specified or selected, and the embroidery frame is moved to the reference position associated with the selected given point through manual operation of a switch. When the embroidering or the trace starts, the embroidery frame is automatically moved from the selected reference position to a position corresponding to the starting point of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the distance data between the specified given point and the starting point, and then the embroidering or the trace is started from the position corresponding to the starting point.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an embroidery sewing machine that embroiders a desired pattern by controlling movement of an embroidery frame that stretches and holds an embroidered material in accordance with pattern data that corresponds to an embroidery pattern, and particularly to a technique that specifies a position of the embroidery frame at a beginning of embroidery or trace.

An embroidery sewing machine embroiders a desired pattern by controlling the movement of an embroidery frame that stretches and holds an embroidering workpiece in accordance with the pattern data that corresponds to an arbitrary embroidery pattern. FIG. 7 shows an example of an embroidery pattern D. The embroidery pattern D is specified in accordance with the pattern data of the embroidery pattern, and a starting point S of the embroidery pattern is a relative position that is specified on the embroidery pattern D as the position where embroidery of the embroidery pattern D is started. The embroidery sewing machine includes a well-known control panel, and a display of the control panel displays an image of the embroidery pattern D based on the pattern data of the embroidery pattern together with the starting point S as well as a position of the embroidery frame in X-Y coordinates. The pattern data of the embroidery pattern has, as shown in FIG. 7, distance data (+X, −X′, +Y, and −Y′) from the starting point S to extreme values of upper, lower, right, and left sides of the embroidery pattern D (as shown by alternate long and short dash lines in FIG. 7), and the distance data can be checked on the display of the control panel.

Conventional embroidery sewing machines specify the position of the embroidery frame at the start of embroidering of the embroidery pattern D (a starting position of the embroidery frame) by moving the embroidery frame so that a sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S of the embroidery pattern when the embroidery pattern D is arranged at any desired position in an embroidering limit range, based on the aforementioned distance data from the starting point S to extreme values of upper, lower, right, and left sides (+X, −X′, +Y, and −Y′), and information of each of the X-Y coordinates that show the position of the embroidery frame (a position of the embroidery frame with respect to the sewing needle).

For example, with reference to FIG. 8, the movement of the embroidery frame in a case where the embroidery pattern D is embroidered in a center of the embroidering limit range 20 (the range that is shown by chain double-dashed lines in FIG. 8) will be described. In this case, the distance data of the embroidery pattern D from the starting point S to extreme values of upper, lower, right, and left sides (+X, −X′, +Y, and −Y′) is displayed on the control panel, a distance from the starting point S to the center C of the embroidery pattern D on the X-Y coordinates is determined, the determined distance on the X-Y coordinates is added to the X-Y coordinates of the embroidery frame at the time when the sewing needle is positioned at the center of the embroidering limit range 20, and therefore the X-Y coordinates that shows the position of the embroidery frame at the time when the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S which is shown in FIG. 8 (starting position) is determined. Accordingly, when the embroidery frame is moved to the X-Y coordinates of the starting position of the embroidery frame that is determined as described above, the starting position of the embroidery frame can be specified so that the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S which is shown in FIG. 8.

For the other example, with reference to FIG. 9, the movement of the embroidery frame in a case where the embroidery pattern D is embroidered in a bottom left corner of the embroidering limit range 20 (the range that is shown by chain double-dashed lines in FIG. 9) will be described. In this case, the distance data from the starting point S to the extreme values of the left and the lower sides of the embroidery pattern D (−X′, −Y′) and a specified safe distance α to be secured between the extreme values of the left and the lower sides of the embroidery pattern D and the embroidering limit range 20 as a distance that is required for the embroidering are added to the X-Y coordinates of the embroidery frame at the time when the sewing needle is positioned at the bottom left corner of the embroidering limit range 20, and therefore the X-Y coordinates that show the position of the embroidery frame at the time when the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S which is shown in FIG. 9 (starting position) is determined. Accordingly, when the embroidery frame is moved to the starting position on the X-Y coordinates of the embroidery frame that is determined as described above, the starting position of the embroidery frame can be specified so that the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S which is shown in FIG. 9.

As the other method of specifying the position of the embroidery frame at the start of embroidering of the embroidery pattern D, there is a method in which an operator measures with a ruler or a scale. Referring to the case where the embroidery pattern D of FIG. 9 is embroidered in the bottom left corner, a distance for specifying the position of the sewing needle that corresponds to the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D which is arranged in the bottom left corner of the embroidering limit range 20 is determined by adding the distance data from the starting point S to the extreme values of the left and the lower sides (−X′, −Y′) and the safe distance α, and the operator uses the ruler for example to measure the determined distance from each of the left side and the lower side of the embroidery pattern, and therefore the position of the sewing needle that corresponds to the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D which is arranged in the bottom left corner of the embroidering limit range 20 is specified, and the embroidery frame is moved so that the sewing needle is positioned at the specified position. Accordingly, the starting position of the embroidery frame can be specified so that the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D which is shown in FIG. 9.

In addition, some of conventionally well-known embroidery sewing machines have a trace function that brings the embroidery frame to move along the outer shape (rough outline) of the embroidery pattern before the start of the embroidering and therefore makes the operator visually inspect if the embroidery pattern fits in the embroidering limit range without any problem (for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-305231 corresponding to US-2009-0064912A1). In the case where the trace function is used, as in the case where the embroidering is started as described above, the X-Y coordinates that show the starting position of the embroidery frame which is appropriately associated with the starting point S of the embroidery pattern are calculated, or the operator measures the starting position of the embroidery pattern that is appropriately associated with the starting point of the embroidery pattern with the ruler, and therefore the embroidery frame is set to the starting position in accordance with the calculation result or the measurement result, and then the trace is started. Upon the visual inspection by the operator with the trace function if the embroidery pattern fits in the embroidering limit range, if there is no problem, the embroidering of the embroidery pattern is started from the starting position.

As described above, in either case where the embroidering is performed or where the trace is performed, at the time when the embroidering or the trace is started, the conventional embroidery sewing machine needs the calculation of the starting position of the embroidery frame or actual measurement by the operator with the ruler in order to set the embroidery frame to the appropriate starting position (the position of the embroidery frame such that the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D that is arranged in one position within the embroidering limit range 20), and therefore the conventional embroidery sewing machine requires very complex settings of the starting position of the embroidery frame (movement of the embroidery frame) at the start of the embroidering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery sewing machine which allows an embroidery start position to be set (i.e., to move the embroidery frame to the embroidery start position) with ease and without any complex tasks at time of a start of the embroidering or the trace.

According to the present invention, there is provided an embroidery sewing machine which has at least either of a function of moving an embroidery frame, having an embroidering workpiece held thereon in a stretched-taut state, in accordance with pattern data of a given embroidery pattern to conduct embroidering of the embroidery pattern and a function of conducting a trace which moves the embroidery frame along an outer shape of the embroidery pattern, the embroidery sewing machine comprising: a memory unit that stores a set of the pattern data corresponding the given embroidery pattern, the set of the pattern data including data identifying a plurality of given points for use as reference positions for defining a layout of the embroidery pattern and distance data for defining respective distances between the respective given points and a predetermined starting point in the embroidery pattern; an embroidery frame pre-movement section adapted to move the embroidery frame to a selected reference position associated with any one of the given points before the embroidering or the trace is started; a specifying section adapted to specify any one of the given points as the selected reference position before the embroidering or the trace is started; and a control section adapted to automatically move the embroidery frame from the selected reference position to a position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the distance data corresponding to the specified given point.

In the embroidery sewing machine according to the present invention described above, the embroidery frame pre-movement section moves the embroidery frame to the selected reference position associated with t any one of the given points, and the specifying section specifies any one of the given points as the selected reference position, before the embroidering or the trace is started. In this way, the embroidery frame is set (previously moved) to the selected reference position associated with any one of the given points, and it is specified about which of the given points the selected reference position is associated with. When the embroidering or the trace starts, the embroidery frame is automatically moved from the reference position to the position corresponding to the starting point on the basis of the distance between the specified given point and the starting point, and thus the embroidery start positioning (start position setting) of the embroidery frame is conducted. Subsequently, the embroidering or the trace may be started.

As one embodiment of the embroidery sewing machine according to the present invention, the plurality of given points may be set at points of at least vertices of a quadrangle circumscribing the embroidery pattern and a center of the embroidery pattern.

Furthermore, as one embodiment of the embroidery sewing machine according to the present invention, in a case of conducting the trace, the control section may be further adapted to automatically move the embroidery frame to the position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern after completion of the trace.

According to the present invention, by merely specifying (or selecting), from the given points associated with the embroidery pattern, one given point where the movement of the embroidery frame can be easily conducted and positioning (pre-moving) the embroidery frame to the position corresponding to the specified (selected) given point before the embroidering or the trace is started, then the embroidery frame can be automatically moved to the position corresponding to the starting point of the embroidery pattern at time of the start of the embroidering or the trace, and therefore the present invention provides beneficial effects such that it is unnecessary to calculate the X-Y coordinates or measure with the ruler to move the embroidery frame to the starting point at the start of the embroidering or the trace, and the movement of the embroidery frame can be easily conducted at the start of the embroidering or the trace.

As one example, the plurality of given points may set at points of at least vertices of a quadrangle circumscribing the embroidery pattern and a center of the embroidery pattern. By adopting the configuration, in the case where the embroidery pattern is embroidered in a center of the embroidering limit range as shown in FIG. 8 described above, for example, by merely selecting the given point that is specified in the center of the embroidery pattern and positioning the embroidery frame to the center of the embroidering limit range (position that corresponds to the given point that is specified in the center of the embroidery pattern) before the embroidering or the trace is started, the embroidery frame is moved to the position that corresponds to the starting point of the embroidery pattern at the start of the embroidering or the trace. Furthermore, in the case where the embroidery pattern is embroidered in the bottom left corner of the embroidering limit range as shown in FIG. 9, the given point that is specified to the bottom left vertex of the quadrangle circumscribing the embroidery pattern may be selected, and the embroidery frame may be moved from the bottom left corner of the embroidering limit range to the position where the safe distance required for the embroidering is provided (position that corresponds to the given point that is specified in the bottom left of the embroidery pattern).

In addition, in a case of conducting the trace, by adopting the configuration such that the control section is further adapted to automatically move the embroidery frame to the position corresponding to the starting point of the embroidery pattern after completion of the trace, when the embroidering is conducted after the trace, the embroidering can be started immediately without a manual movement of the embroidery frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the object and other features of the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described hereinbelow in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of appearance of a multi-head embroidery sewing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention that is seen from a front top right;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a control panel box that is shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that shows a sample of main components in an electrical hardware configuration of a controller for the multi-head embroidery sewing machine;

FIG. 4 shows an example of the embroidery pattern;

FIG. 5 shows a given point selection screen that is displayed on a liquid crystal display of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows a state where the embroidery pattern is arranged at a lower left corner in an embroidering limit range;

FIG. 7 is a diagram that illustrates a background art and shows an example of the embroidery pattern;

FIG. 8 is a diagram that illustrates the background art and shows a state where the embroidery pattern which is shown in FIG. 7 is arranged at a center of the embroidering limit range; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram that illustrates the background art and shows a state where the embroidery pattern which is shown in FIG. 7 is arranged at the lower left corner in the embroidering limit range.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-head embroidery sewing machine that is seen from a front top right. In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 1 denotes a sewing machine frame, and a reference numeral 2 denotes a table. On the sewing machine frame 1, plural (six) sewing heads 3 are disposed, and plural (six) shuttle bases 4 are respectively disposed in positions immediately under the sewing heads 3 at the same level as the table 2. An embroidery frame 5 is placed on the table 2 and driven in forward, backward, right and left directions (X direction and Y direction) by an X-drive mechanism 6 and a Y-drive mechanism 7 that are provided in lower sections of the table. As well known in the art, embroidering is conducted on fabric (embroidering workpiece) that is stretched and held in the embroidery frame 5 through the cooperation of the sewing needle which vertically reciprocates in a sewing head 3 and a shuttle which is rotated in the shuttle base 4.

A well-known control panel box 8 which configures various settings for the embroidery sewing machine is provided in a right end section of the sewing machine frame 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of the control panel box 8. The front of the control panel box 8 has a liquid crystal display 9 with a touch switch sheet, a frame movement command switch 10 for four directions of upward, downward, right and left directions which is positioned in a lower right of the control panel box 8, and a speed change switch 11 that is positioned on the right side of the frame movement command switch 10.

On the screen of the liquid crystal display 9, an area that displays an image of the embroidery pattern and switch icons and the like in which various commands are input are arranged. In the area that displays an image of a given (arbitrary or selected) embroidery pattern D, the image of the given embroidery pattern D that is selected as the embroidery pattern to be embroidered is displayed, and an image of a position (or arrangement) of the embroidery frame 5 is also displayed in the X-Y coordinates (not shown).

The frame movement command switch 10 is a switch for the movement control of the embroidery frame 5 through the operation of itself, and the speed change switch 11 is a switch for alternately changing the movement speed of the embroidery frame 5 between a “high speed” and a “low speed”.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that schematically shows main components in an electrical hardware configuration of a controller for the multi-head embroidery sewing machine. The controller for the multi-head embroidery sewing machine includes a CPU 12, ROM 13, RAM 14, a bus 15, and an input/output interface 16, and the CPU 12, the ROM 13, the RAM 14, and the input/output interface 16 are connected through the bus 15.

As well known in the art, the CPU 12 controls the whole controller in accordance with a program that is stored in the ROM 13. The RAM 14 stores various data, necessary for embroidery processing, including one or more sets of pattern data of one or more embroidery patterns. In an embodiment according to the present invention, a set of the pattern data corresponding to a given embroidery pattern includes not only information for specifying the corresponding embroidery pattern (including shape, size, and color, for example, typically, sewing data group that specify an X-Y movement amount of the embroidery frame), but also data identifying a plurality of given points (i.e., given point data) and distance data peculiar to the present invention. The given point data and the distance data will be described later in detail. The input/output interface 16 is connected with a sewing machine main shall drive mechanism 17, the X-drive mechanism 6, the Y-drive mechanism 7, the control panel box 8, and so on, and the sewing machine main shaft drive mechanism 17, the X-drive mechanism 6, the Y-drive mechanism 7, and the control panel box 8 can conduct communications of various data with the CPU 12 through the input/output interface 16. The sewing machine main shaft drive mechanism 17 drives the needle of the sewing head 3 for vertical movement and the shuttle of the shuttle base 4 for rotation.

When the frame movement command switch 10 in the control panel box 8 is operated, a signal in response to the operation is input as the data from the control panel box 8 into the CPU 12 through the input/output interface 16, and the CPU 12 outputs a control signal in response to the operation of the frame movement command switch 10 to the X-drive mechanism 6 and the Y-drive mechanism 7 through the input/output interface 16. The X-drive mechanism 6 and the Y-drive mechanism 7 drive the embroidery frame 5 in accordance with the control signal that is input through the input/output interface 16 to move the embroidery frame 5 in directions that correspond to the operation of the frame movement command switch 10. The operator can move the embroidery frame 5 in a state prior to the start of the embroidering or the trace to an arbitrary position through the switch operation for each forward, backward, right, or left direction with the frame movement command switch 10.

When the embroidery sewing machine is started, in other words, the embroidering is started, the sewing machine main shaft drive mechanism 17 is driven in accordance with the control of the CPU 12, and accordingly the sewing needle of the sewing head 3 is driven for the vertical movement, and the shuttle of the shuttle base 4 is driven for rotation. In synchronization with the above operation, the embroidery frame 5 is driven by the X-drive mechanism 6 and the Y-drive mechanism 7, and accordingly the embroidery process is conducted.

Contents of the embroidery process (embroidery pattern) are specified in accordance with the pattern data which is selected by the operator, and the CPU 12 reads the selected pattern data from the RAM 14, drives the X-drive mechanism 6 and the Y-drive mechanism 7 in accordance with the read pattern data, controls the movement of the embroidery frame 5, and thus achieves the embroidering of the embroidery pattern that corresponds to the pattern data. As well known in the art, the operator can arbitrarily set the position where the embroidery pattern is sewn in the embroidering limit range on the fabric (embroidering workpiece). Therefore, when the embroidering of the embroidery pattern is stated, the position of the embroidery frame 5 is required to be set in accordance with a layout position of the embroidery pattern with respect to the embroidering limit range.

Next, a process for moving the embroidery frame 5 to any position of the given point before the embroidering is started is described. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the pattern data of the embroidery pattern D to be embroidered or traced from that time is selected by the operator, and the image of the embroidery pattern D in accordance with the pattern data of the selected embroidery pattern is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 9. FIG. 4 is a view that illustrates one example of the pattern data of the embroidery pattern D. One or more pattern data are stored in the RAM 14, and each data has information that specifies the corresponding embroidery pattern D (including shape, size, color, and so on), information on plural given points P1 through P9 (given point data) that are used as reference points for defining the layout of the embroidery pattern D in the embroidering limit range 20 (embroidery frame 5), and plural distance data that respectively correspond to the plural given points P1 through P9. As conventionally known, the starting point S that corresponds to the embroidery pattern D can be specified. The plural distance data are vector data that respectively indicate a distance from the corresponding given points P1 through P9 to the starting point S (distance data that consists of x- and y-components). Therefore, relative positions of the starting point S to the respective given points P1 through P9 can be specified with the respective distance data.

The plural given points P1 through P9 are respectively predetermined at plural main points of the embroidery pattern D, and it is considered that at least five points which include respective vertices of a quadrangle circumscribing the embroidery pattern D and the center of the embroidery pattern are determined to be the given points, for example. In the example of FIG. 4, nine points that include the respective vertices of the quadrangle (P1, P3, P7, and P9) circumscribing the embroidery pattern D shown by the alternate long and short dash lines, midpoints (P2, P4, P6, and P8) of four sides of the quadrangle (extreme values for the upper, lower, right and left sides of the embroidery pattern D), and the center (P5) of the embroidery pattern D are determined to be the given points P1 through P9. As described above, it is preferable that some limiting positions which limit the outer shape or outline of the embroidery pattern D and the center position are determined to be the given points P1 through P9.

FIG. 5 shows a state where the given point selection screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9. The given point selection screen functions as a specifying (selecting) section in which the operator specifies (selects) one desired point from the plural given points P1 through P9 that are determined in the embroidery pattern D. When one embroidery pattern D is newly selected to be embroidered from that time, the CPU 12 displays the given point selection screen shown in FIG. 5 on the liquid crystal display 9. The process of activating the given point selection screen on the liquid crystal display 9 may be configured to automatically display the given point selection screen that corresponds to the selected embroidery pattern, or to display a dedicated button for instructing the display of the given point selection screen on the liquid crystal display 9 when one embroidery pattern D to be embroidered is newly selected and then display the given point selection screen that corresponds to the newly selected embroidery pattern when the operator presses the dedicated button.

As shown in FIG. 5, the given point selection screen displays selection buttons B1 through B9 that respectively correspond to the given points P1 through P9 in reference positions that respectively correspond to the given points P1 through P9 which are predetermined in association with the embroidery pattern D. The nine selection buttons B1 through B9 respectively function as buttons for instructing the selection of the corresponding given points P1 through P9. The operator can press any one of the nine selection buttons B1 through B9 to select the given point that corresponds to the pressed selection button (to specify the given point as the reference position for positioning the embroidery frame in advance). One selection button that is selected is displayed with its display manner (such as display color) changed differently from the other selection buttons in unselected states and visually recognized such that the button is being selected. FIG. 5 illustrates the state where the lower left selection button B7 is selected, and the display manner of the selection button B7 in a selected state is different from that of the other selection buttons B1 through B6, B8, and B9 in the unselected states.

The key points of the configuration for specifying the position of the embroidery frame 5 prior to the start of the embroidering are: specifying (selecting) any one of plural given points P1 through P9 (selection of one selection button B1 through B9 on the given point selection screen of FIG. 5); and moving the embroidery frame 5 to the reference position that corresponds to the given point which is specified (selected) (movement of the embroidery frame 5 through manual operation with the frame movement command switch 10 in the control panel box 8). Which given point is selected from plural given points P1 through P9 may be determined in accordance with the layout of the embroidery pattern D with respect to the embroidering limit range 20 (embroidery frame 5) and a current position of the embroidery frame 5. That is to say, an appropriate given point may be selected so that positioning the embroidery frame 5 can be most easily conducted in accordance with the desired layout of the embroidery pattern D in the embroidering limit range 20 (embroidery frame 5) and the current position of the embroidery frame 5.

As one example of a pre-movement of the embroidery frame 5 prior to the start of the embroidering, a position setting of the embroidery frame 5 in the case where the embroidery pattern D is arranged in the lower left corner of the embroidering limit range 20 and the embroidering is conducted is described particularly with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. In the case where the embroidery pattern D is arranged in the lower left corner of the embroidering limit range 20, a position that corresponds to the given point P7 (see FIG. 5) which is specified in the lower left corner of the embroidery pattern D is a position to which the embroidery frame 5 can be most easily moved. In this case, the operator presses, on the given point selection screen shown in FIG. 5, the selection button B7 that corresponds to the given point P7 which is specified in the embroidery pattern D. In addition, the operator positions the embroidery frame 5 to the position that corresponds to the given point P7. Particularly, the operator manually operates the frame movement command switch 10 to move the embroidery frame 5 so that the sewing needle is positioned in a position (an X-marked location) where the safe distance α required for the embroidering is provided from the lower left corner of the embroidering limit range 20 (chain double-dashed lines) as shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the operator can specify the position of the embroidery frame 5 just prior to the start of the embroidering to the position that corresponds to the arbitrary given points where the operator desires (in this case, the given point P7). The safe distance α is a specific distance to be secured between the embroidery pattern and the embroidering limit range 20 as the distance required for the embroidering. The movement of the embroidery frame 5 is only the movement of the embroidery frame 5 to the X-marked position that is away from the lower left corner in the embroidering limit range 20 by the specific safe distance, and therefore a task such as calculation of the X-Y coordinates in accordance with the starting point S or the extreme values of the embroidery pattern D is not required. In other words, the operator may estimate whether there is a clearance for the safe distance α or not by eye, and the operator does not need to accurately calculate.

Either of the selection of the given point or the pre-movement of the embroidery frame 5 may be conducted in first. That is to say, the operator can position the embroidery frame 5 at the arbitrary position (the position that corresponds to any one of the plural given points P1 through P9 which is specified in the embroidery pattern D) by using the frame movement command switch 10 in the control panel box 8 and then select a given point P1 through P9 that corresponds to the position of the moved embroidery frame 5 (press a corresponding selection button B1 through B9). In other words, the selection of the given point P1 through P9 with the selection button B1 through B9 is conducted for providing to the CPU 12 notification of a prior position of the embroidery frame 5 that is manually moved (specified) by the operator.

After the pre-movement of the embroidery frame 5 is conducted as described above, the operation of the sewing machine is started, in other words, embroidering operation is started. When the operation of the sewing machine is started, the CPU 12 extracts the distance data between the given point P7 that is selected at the start of the embroidering and the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D from the pattern data that is stored in the RAM 14, and automatically moves the embroidery frame 5 from the current position (a position that is shown with an X mark and corresponds to the given point P7) to the position that corresponds to the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D, based on the extracted distance data. Because the embroidery frame 5 is in the reference position that corresponds to the given point P7 due to the pre-movement of the embroidery frame 5 at the start of the embroidering, when the embroidery frame 5 is just moved, based on the distance data between the given point P7 that is included in the pattern data and the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D, the embroidery frame 5 can be moved from the reference position that corresponds to the given point P7 to the position that corresponds to the starting point S (more particularly, the position such that the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S). Then, after the CPU 12 moves the embroidery frame 5 to the position of the starting point S, the CPU 12 starts the embroidering of the embroidery pattern D of which the starting point S is designated as the starting point.

The position setting of the embroidery frame as described above is applicable at the trace of the embroidery pattern D. The trace function in the embroidery sewing machine is a function that brings the embroidery frame 5 to move along the outer shape of the embroidery pattern D prior to the start of the embroidering and therefore makes the operator visually inspect if the embroidery pattern D fits in the embroidering limit range without any problem, as well known in the art. Before the trace is started, as is the case in the embroidering, the position of the embroidery frame 5 is also required to be set in accordance with the layout position of the embroidery pattern with respect to the embroidering limit range. Therefore, before the trace is started, as is the case before the embroidering is started, the operator selects one of plural given points P1 through P9 that are specified in the embroidery pattern D and moves the embroidery frame 5 to the position that corresponds to the selected given point. Then, when the operation of the sewing machine is started, after the embroidery frame 5 is moved from the position of the selected given point to the position of the starting point S, based on the distance data between the selected given point and the starting point S, the trace (movement of the embroidery frame 5 along the outer shape of the embroidery pattern D) is started.

Furthermore, in the case of the trace, the movement of the embroidery frame 5 may be controlled so that the embroidery frame 5 is positioned at the starting point S at the completion of the trace. When the embroidery sewing machine is configured as described above, upon the starting of the embroidering after the completion of the trace, the embroidering can be started immediately without the movement of the embroidery frame 5 to the starting point S again.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by merely selecting one given point from the plural given points P1 through P9 in the embroidery pattern D and positioning the embroidery frame 5 to the position that corresponds to the selected given point before the embroidering or the trace is started, the embroidering or the trace is started after the embroidery frame 5 is moved to the position that corresponds to the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D, and therefore the present invention provides beneficial effects such that it is not necessary to calculate the X-Y coordinates or measure with the ruler to move the embroidery frame 5 to the starting point S at the start of the embroidering or the trace, and the movement of the embroidery frame 5 (position setting of the embroidery frame 5) can be easily conducted at the start of the embroidering or the trace.

Depending on conditions of the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D and the layout position of the embroidery pattern D in the embroidering limit range, such as the case where the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D to be embroidered is specified at the center of the embroidery pattern D and where the embroidery pattern D is embroidered in the center of the embroidering limit range (in other words, the case where the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D corresponds with the center of the embroidering limit range), the embroidery frame 5 may be easily positioned such that the sewing needle is positioned at the starting point S of the embroidery pattern D, in some cases. In such the case, without the selection of the given point, the embroidering or the trace may be started after the embroidery frame 5 is positioned at the position that corresponds to the starting position S with the frame movement command switch 10.

In the example shown in FIG. 4 as described above, the given points P1 through P9 are specified to the nine points that include the respective vertices of the quadrangle circumscribing the embroidery pattern D, midpoints of four sides of the quadrangle (extreme values for the upper, lower, right and left sides of the embroidery pattern D), and the center (P5) of the embroidery pattern D; however, the plural given points that are specified in the embroidery pattern D are not limited to the embodiment described above but may be changed in number and specified locations appropriately.

In the example shown in FIG. 5 as described above, the manner in which the selection buttons B1 through B9 that correspond to the given points P1 through P9 are displayed in the image of the embroidery pattern on the given point selection screen is used; however, the embodiment of selection means for selecting the given point is not limited to the given point selection screen of FIG. 5 but may take any forms as long as one given point can be selected from plural given points.

This application is based on, and claims priority to, JP PA 2011-061284 filed on 18 Mar. 2011. The disclosure of the priority application, in its entirety, including the drawings, claims, and the specification thereof, is incorporated herein by reference. 

1. An embroidery sewing machine which has at least either of a function of moving an embroidery frame, having an embroidering workpiece held thereon in a stretched-taut state, in accordance with pattern data of a given embroidery pattern to conduct embroidering of the embroidery pattern and a function of conducting a trace which moves the embroidery frame along an outer shape of the embroidery pattern, the embroidery sewing machine comprising: a memory unit that stores a set of the pattern data corresponding the given embroidery pattern, the set of the pattern data including data identifying a plurality of given points for use as reference positions for defining a layout of the embroidery pattern and distance data for defining respective distances between the respective given points and a predetermined starting point in the embroidery pattern; an embroidery frame pre-movement section adapted to move the embroidery frame to a selected reference position associated with any one of the given points before the embroidering or the trace is started; a specifying section adapted to specify any one of the given points as the selected reference position before the embroidering or the trace is started; and a control section adapted to automatically move the embroidery frame from the selected reference position to a position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the distance data corresponding to the specified given point.
 2. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of given points are set at points of at least vertices of a quadrangle circumscribing the embroidery pattern and a center of the embroidery pattern.
 3. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein in a case of conducting the trace, the control section is further adapted to automatically move the embroidery frame to the position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern after completion of the trace.
 4. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the embroidery frame pre-movement section is adapted to move the embroidery frame to the selected reference position according to an operation of a human operator
 5. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, which further comprises a display device for visually displaying a relationship between the plurality of given points and the embroidery pattern.
 6. A embroidery-start-position setting method for an embroidery sewing machine which has at least either of a function of moving an embroidery frame, having an embroidering workpiece held thereon in a stretched-taut state, in accordance with pattern data of an arbitrary embroidery pattern to conduct embroidering of the embroidery pattern and a function of conducting a trace which moves the embroidery frame along an outer shape of the embroidery pattern, the embroidery sewing machine comprising a memory unit that stores a set of the pattern data corresponding the given embroidery pattern, the set of the pattern data including data identifying a plurality of given points for use as reference positions for defining a layout of the embroidery pattern and distance data for defining respective distances between the respective given points and a predetermined starting point in the embroidery pattern, the method comprising the steps of: moving the embroidery frame to a selected reference position associated with any one of the given points before the embroidering or the trace is started; specifying any one of the given points as the selected reference position before the embroidering or the trace is started; and automatically moving the embroidery frame from the selected reference position to a position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the distance data corresponding to the specified given point. 